King Manor Museum

Organizational Mission Statement: Founded in 1900, King Manor Association of L.I., Inc. operates King Manor as a historic house museum to preserve and interpret the home and legacy of Rufus King.  Our mission is to involve and educate children and adults in local and national history through an innovative presentation of King Manor and its collection in the context of life in Jamaica and the United States in the early 19th century.  The only historic house museum in Southeast Queens, King Manor serves a largely minority and immigrant community and engages its audiences through historic site tours, interactive exhibits, lectures, public programs, and school and community outreach.  Collections management, preservation, and architectural, archaeological and historical research are continuous activities at the museum.  Our goal is to make history relevant and immediate, and to foster an awareness of the roots of the present and a deeper appreciation of history as an on-going process.

Interpretive Mission: Through its interpretive programs, King Manor will focus on the role of Rufus King and his sons as national figures in the early anti-slavery movement and will explore the ramifications of their choice to hire free workers rather than practice slavery.

In recognition of its architectural and historical significance, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated King Manor as a landmark in 1966, with portions of the interior designated in 1976. King Manor was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.